Posts from the ‘Haojue’ Category

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After some difficulties with rights to the Maxtra name, Maxtra Racing is now Haojue Racing. That explains why we have not been able to access their web site. Personally I like when Asian brands keep their name so I am glad to see them keep the name Haojue. Looks like the team is making great progress.

Here are some quotes from a recent email release from the team about their progress towards 125cc MotoGP competition…The Chinese Haojue 125cc GP race team made its official test debut at the Jerez three day test, making steady progress refining machine set-up and testing more new parts.

The team received a great welcome from the rest of the MotoGP paddock with many positive comments on the amount of progress we have made with the machine in just eight months since turning a wheel for the first time.

The whole email is printed below. Please be sure to sign up for the Houjue email newsletter.

March 28 2009.

Pictured: Team Haojue riders Michael Ranseder and Matt Hoyle at the Jerez test.

The Chinese Haojue 125cc GP race team made its official test debut at the Jerez three day test, making steady progress refining machine set-up and testing more new parts.

“It has been something of a baptism of fire for the team in general and for our GP rookie Matt Hoyle in particular,” said team director Garry Taylor.

“Most of the machines out there have a few seasons of race development, while we are still testing new ideas, parts and set-ups. We had a lot of work to do with various engine and chassis options in a limited amount of on-track time, but we have come away with a stack of information, data and experience which will help us continue to move forward.

“For Matt it was his first time on track with GP class riders and he coped really well. Michael worked really hard, riding smoothly and consistently to give great feedback to the team. He put in so many laps that the motor reached the end of its service life and he had to miss the last session.

“The team received a great welcome from the rest of the MotoGP paddock with many positive comments on the amount of progress we have made with the machine in just eight months since turning a wheel for the first time.

“Franco collated a vast amount of engine data which he will now take back to analyse with Jan in the ongoing development programme.

“The crew are now back to the workshop in the UK to prepare for the final pre-season tests at Qatar next week and the machines are already on their way.”

Michael Ranseder; “Testing is always hard work, but it is very interesting to be part of the development programme for a complete new machine. I rode well within my limits at this test in order to give consistent feedback and I am happy that we are making progress all the time.”

Matt Hoyle; “Well this was the first step on what I hope is a short ladder in the move up to the top level of 125 racing. The team is working really well and we are all learning all of the time. I’m loving it!”

One month until Qatar MotoGP opener. Anyone notice Maxtra Racing’s website is password protected? It has been that way for a few weeks. No email updates from Maxtra lately. The most recent email update was February 15 2009, about 1 month ago. In December and January we were getting emails every few weeks. I was looking forward to seeing China’s first entry into MotoGP, I hope all is good with progress on the 125cc two stroke machine.

Chinese Moto GP team Maxtra Racing has chosen Michael Ranseder as the first rider. Maxtra Racing is the first all Chinese entry into Moto GP and should be a great step for parent company Houjue and the Chinese motorcycle industry in general. Ranseder brings 3 years of increasingly successful Moto GP experience to the team. There is a second rider spot still open. Maxtra will race in 2009 Moto GP in the 125cc class. Read more about Ransder and the innovative upside-down cylindar 125cc Maxtra for more information.

Looks like the team at Maxtra Racing is considering a production version of their 125cc MotoGP race bike. Chinese company Haojue has teamed up with racing legends John Sutrees, Gary Taylor and others to build a motorcycle from the ground up and race it in the 125cc class of motoGP. Obviously the project is generating a lot of interest for the Maxtra brand.

This is a drastic departure from most Chinese motorcycle manufactures approach to entering markets outside of China. While Zongshen and Lifan aim at low cost, low cc market Haojue decided to shoot for the elite segment of one off race motorcycles and work backwards from there. So far it was a good call. The Maxtra name will be associated with racing before it ever reaches showroom floors. An image of quality will be baked in to the name.